Vehicles-spring.



No. 744,259. PATENTED NOV. 17, 1903.

' G. L.- THOMAS.

VEHICLE SPRING. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15, 1902. I

I0 110mm UNIT D STATES Tatented November 17, 1903 PATENT ()FFICE-VEHICLE-SPRING.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 744,2 dated NovemberApplication filed September 15, 1902. Serial No. 123,497. (No model.) I

v To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES LEE THOMAS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Amsterdam, in the county of Montgomery and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVehicle-Springs; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in vehicle-springs.

The object of the invention is to provide a light, cheap, and durablespring whichpossesses maximum strength and reduces to a minimum siderocking of the vehicle-body.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts,as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointedout in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of avehicle-body equipped with my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of one of the springs.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 1 represents a vehiclebox or body, 2 its supporting-axles, and 3 a reach or brace bar forminga connection between the axles and secured at its ends thereto by clips3'. The body is supported from each axle upon springs 4, each of whichconsistsof a central supporting portion 4 and spring portions 5, saidsupporting portion being journaled to rock upon the axle and bar 3 in abearing formed by .the clips 3 and being provided with shoulders 6 toabut against the opposite sides of said bar to hold the spring againstendwise movement longitudinally of the axle. The spring portions 5consist each of a single piece of stout spring-steelbent to form aspring-coil 7, a side arm 8, and a lat eral connecting-arm 9. The sidearms 8 may be formed integral with the supporting portion or bar 4, orthey may be connected at their ends thereto by elbows or couplings 10.Preferably the supporting portion 4 is formed independent of the springportions 5 and suitably united thereto, as by the elbows 10, as by thisconstruction the said supporting portion may be tapered from the centertoward each end, as shown in Fig. 3, thus making it light and yet strongat the center to afford a firm support upon the axle. In some cases,however, I may, as stated, form the entire spring of a single piece ofmaterial, the central part of which will form the supporting portion 4and the ends the spring portions 5, which latter will be bent into theform described and terminate with the lateral connecting-arms 9, formedby the extremities of the continuous piece of wire constituting thesprings. I

As shown, the springs 7 of the two spring portions 5 are coiled inopposite directions, and the lateral connecting-arms 9 are ,arranged inparallel relation and connected by the clips 11 11 to the bottom of thebox or bed 1, while the portions intermediate the springs 7 and sidearms 8 form journals 12, which are mounted in bearings 13, secured tothe bottom of the body adjacent to the sides thereof. From these journalportions 12 the side arms 8 project downwardly and forwardly, as clearlyshown in Fig. 1, and conmeet with the supporting bar or portion 4,whereby the journal portions 12 have axial play in the bearings 13,allowing the body 1 to have movement in a vertical plane and the springs7 to exert a resilient action to permit the body to move downward understrain and then to restore the body to its normal position. It will beseen that as the bar or supporting portion 1, though journaled on theaxle, is itself rigid, and as the end coilspring portions are connectedby the bearings 13 to the bottom of the body, at opposite sides thereof,any tendency. of the body to rock in a sidewise direction will bematerially diminished or entirely overcome, thus preventing thesupporting-bar 4 is journaled to rock 1 of the spring is instantlyconveyed along the whole length of the springan obvious advantage.

YVhere the supporting bar or portion 4 is formed independent of thecoil-spring portions, it may be found expedient in some cases to makethe portions 5 of a continuous piece of spring-wire, the wire being bentat its center to form the connecting-arms 9, which will then be unitedand in the form of a loop, and thence continued and bent to form thecoils, opposite side arms, and journal portions, as will be readilyunderstood without a further extended description orillustration. Thebar or supporting portion 4 may also be arched, as shown in Fig. 2, ormade straight, as shown in Fig. 3.

Any desired number of the coils 7 may be employed, making the spring aseasy-acting as may be desired without an increase of side motion, as inthe case of other coil-springs.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and mode of operation of theinvention will be readilyunderstood, and it will be seen that itprovides a vehiclespring which is simple of construction, cornparativelyinexpensive of production, and designed to give the required yieldingaction to the body, while obviating the objectionable side rockingmotion which is permitted when the ordinary elliptical springs are used.

While the preferred form of the invention is herein disclosed, it willof course be understood that changes in the form, construction, andarrangement of the parts other than those indicated may be made withinthe scope of the invention without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A spring of the class described,comprising an intermediate substantiallystraight portion forming ajournal, side arm portions disposed angularly with relation and rigidlyconnected thereto, inturned journal portions at the outer ends of saidside arm portions and formed with coaxial spring-coils 7, and withprojecting arms 9, at the opposing end portions of the respectivespring-coils disposed substantially parallel with each other, andangularly with relation to the said inturned portions.

2. The combination with the running-gear of a vehicle, of a bearingthereon, a spring having an intermediate substantially straight portioncentrally journaled in said bearing, side arm portions diposed angularlywith relation and connected to said intermediate portion, inturnedportions at the outer ends of said side arm portions and formed withcoaxial spring-coils '7, and with projecting arms 9 at the opposing endportion of the respective spring-coils and disposed substantiallyparallel with each other and angularly with relation to the saidinturned portions,and a vehicle-body having bearings for said inturnedportions of the spring, and devices to secure the said projecting arms 9to the body, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CHARLES 'LEE THOMAS.

\Vitnesses:

C. EDMONSTON, B. G. CowL.

